The Study Abroad Film Festival asks SAF scholars to capture the spirit of study abroad—both what it means to you, and how it redefined your world.

We know you have an amazing story to tell and we don’t want to just hear it, we want to see it. Make us laugh. Make us cry. Teach us. Challenge us to think about the world that we live in and move us to do something about it.

You are invited to enter the Study Abroad Film Fest, hosted annually by IES Abroad. Submit your short films—up to three!—that encompass the spirit of study abroad and how it redefined you! This is a unique opportunity for you to bring the international student perspective to the Festival. We value your unique voice – so feel free to film in English, your native language or a mix of the two (films must include English sub-titles if the film is not in the English language.).

Be a Part of it

We know that every experience has something to teach. That’s why your short film can be about any aspect of your journey that captures the spirit of study abroad. Check out the three categories below to decide which one your film will compete within.

categories

A Day in the Life (90 second maximum) Your day is more extraordinary than you realize - show us what it looks like! Submit to this category to give a brief, but vibrant glimpse into your day-to-day life abroad.

Creative Short (10 minute maximum)Creative Shorts can be stories of personal development and reflection, music videos, explorations of social issues and events in your host country, reenactments, and more.

DocumentaryWe want to learn from you! What did study abroad teach you about the world? Submit your film to this category if your film provides factual information on a topic or theme, or was created as part of a film course.

previous winners

"Tangier to Casablanca" | 2018 WINNER

"This original song and film encapsulates my 9-month study abroad with IES Abroad Rabat in Morocco. Featuring a train ride, Chefchaouen (the 'Blue City'), Rabat, the Sahara Desert, cameos by two sweet neighbor girls, my Arabic professor, and my precious host mother, Doha, as the central character, 'Tangier to Casablanca' is a story of pain, joy, longing, and journeys intertwining. Two months after I arrived in Morocco, my host mother received news that her father unexpectedly passed away in Canada. Ultimately, this tragedy led to a bond to be formed between us, while also teaching me a valuable lesson. We are all on a journey. And it’s not the places or sites seen that have the lasting impact on us. It’s the people."

"Solitude: A companion Abroad" | 2017 Winner

“The short film we have produced aims to showcase the perspectives of students who studied abroad in Santiago, Chile this semester asking them ‘Why they studied abroad’ and their plans after. We used their responses to guide our writing of the film. The question ‘Why abroad?’ hoped to gain responses that suggested personal growth, change or enlightenment as we explain that study abroad is not always what one expects. It is not always so loud and glamorous, it is also quiet, ‘melancholy’ and lonely. This loneliness, actually becomes our greatest teacher and companion. This companion not only accompanies us but also allows us to search our inner most selves, helping us answer questions such as ‘What are we going to do after?’”

"Even in europe..." | 2016 Winner

Jordan cain | Indiana University | IES Abroad Vienna, Spring 2016

“These are the highlights of my semester studying abroad in Europe! I took a camera with me everywhere I went and danced, walked, and had fun hanging out in front of the what I thought was beautiful and unique to the city. I also danced in the places I spent my most time while I was studying in Vienna, such as a grocery store called Billa. I am so thankful I had this opportunity to travel and learn about so many different things in the world and this production is my way of communicating my feelings and experiences throughout.”

"It's Okay" | 2015 Winner

“Studying abroad is a strange and specific time that comes with a lot of expectations. We talk about the life changing time we had and how different we feel when we reach its end. But I also think that there are crucial aspects of studying abroad that people don’t talk about. Things that are too personal or too somber for casual conversation.​'It's Okay' is a reflection on the way that this experience humbles us by making each of us hyperaware of our faults and insecurities. It is a time where we can recognize that it is not about conquering our weaknesses; it is about discovering them. And in the end, we might find the strength to understand these weaknesses, and move forward.”

"East of Here" | 2014 Winner

"'East of Here' is told from several different perspectives, each interviewee offering a short insight into how they have been changed by their time abroad. I hope that, as a result, 'East of Here' also invites the viewer to reflect and reconsider his or her own feelings on what they see and hear on the screen. As I say in the film, China is only recently 'open' to the world--and the world only recently open to it. Comparatively few Americans know well the history of China or fully understand China in its modernity. 'East of Here' showcases the spirit of study abroad in that it challenges the viewer to look deeply into the fabric of a very foreign country and emerge, hopefully, with their perceptions and opinions redefined."

our first ever 2017 film festival event

Thoughtful and creative filmmakers. A fabulous celebrity host (we're looking at you, Kate Flannery). And films that make you laugh, cry, and want to travel the world. No, not the Oscars (but close), we're talking about our 2018 Study Abroad Film Festival event! We were thrilled to announce our Grand Prize Winner during the second live Study Abroad Film Festival event on November 7th, at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) Chicago. The night was MC'd by award winning film critic Richard Roeper and was attended by almost 200 study abroad lovers, students, and staff.